Nov. 1, 2024
BY JOHN BAILEY
It started last December with an invitation to cook meals for the homeless at a local church.
This led to questions about what else could be done to help the unsheltered.
“What is it going to take to get you out of the woods?”
“Do you need insurance?”
“Do you need regular food assistance?”
“Do you need help to apply for a job?”
It was from simply taking the time to ask these questions, that led The Kindness Project to refocus their mission to go beyond just providing a meal, to connecting those in need with services that could change their lives, according to the agency’s president Ashley Dellinger.
In September, the Catawba County United Way partnered with The Kindness Project through the Small Businesses Love Big grant cycle, supporting their Sunday meal outreach.
“The food is our kicker to opening up that door to help, along with showing up consistently and letting them know that they are loved,” Dellinger said.
So far this year, The Kindness Project has served 2,800 meals in Catawba County.
The agency is spearheaded by five core
members plus other weekly volunteers. Along with serving hot meals every weekend at Highland United Methodist Church in Hickory, the agency has hosted other community outreach events. It’s held three Loads of Love laundry days in partnership with Community Laundry in Brookford and a shower day at the Hickory Soup Kitchen.
The group tries to pack as much outreach into all their events, serving meals, providing transportation, offering free haircuts and inviting other non-profits so they can share information about their services.
In the end, it’s about doing what they need to make a connection, The Kindness Project Vice President Amber Taylor said. At the second Laundry Day this effort paid off when someone they had been working with, decided he was ready to change his life.
“On the way back to his camp, he told me he didn’t want to go back,” Dellinger said. “So, we returned to the Laundry Day, and he sat down with us and went into detail about his struggles.”
Twenty-four hours later, The Kindness Project was able to get him to a hospital for a mental health evaluation along with addressing substance abuse. He is now in a year-long program at an area treatment center. Dellinger continued to visit him while he was in the hospital.
“And I think that’s what is different about us,” Taylor said. “We don’t just put someone in a program or give them a bus pass. We try to walk with them, so they know they are not alone.”
Collaboration
To start building their list of resources they could share and to share their own mission, the group started to reach out to other non-profits earlier this year.
Two agencies they’ve built strong working relationships with are Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG) and Partners Health Management.
“Often, individuals who have become unsheltered require friendly conversations, encouragement and ongoing support,” Chasity Houck, WPCOG Homelessness Response Manager said. “The Kindness Project is always willing to go the extra mile for those they encounter. Whether it’s hearing a call for help or identifying a need, they’re quick to respond, showing up whenever they’re needed.”
This month that meant reaching out to those in need in Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene.
The Monday after the hurricane, the group rented a U-Haul truck, filled it with donations and made several trips into Western North Carolina throughout the next couple of weeks: Old Fort, Swannanoa, Black Mountain, Burnsville and Montreat. They plan on going back to help with clean-up projects in upcoming weeks.
“We are very lucky to have them. They show up and make a difference for so many,” Partners Health Management Housing Specialist Amber Brafford said. “This group is frequently doing street outreach to encampments, shelters and other areas to meet people where they are.”
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Kindness Project, send an email to KindnessProjectHky@gmail.com. They need volunteers to help with community outreach on Saturdays and Sundays.
On Dec. 7, the group will host a fundraiser to support their outreach – Breakfast with Santa – 8 to 11 a.m. at Highland United Methodist in Hickory.